Ten tips on how to take the snap you want without breaking local law or customs.
Photo etiquette depends on who the subject is (a street musician, a child playing in the park, a panhandler, a policeman) as well as where the subject is. (In Spain, for example, you’re breaking the law if you don’t first get permission to take a photo. Check out these Country Specific Consent Requirements before you start shooting.)
Taking a photo is situational. Some people like having their photo taken. Some people don’t. And some can go either way, depending on their mood, which can be influenced by the photographer’s actions.
Here are ten tips on giving it your best shot to get your best shot.
1. Downsize your equipment.
Smaller cameras are less intimidating than larger models.
2. Learn basic phrases.
At the very least, try to learn how to say “May I take your photograph?” in the local language. If possible, learn slightly more personal phrases, such as, “You look very elegant.”
3. Be patient.
A subject may be very aware of you at first. But if you wait (just stand there for a couple minutes, looking away), the subject’s interest in you may wane, allowing you to get a nice candid moment.
4. Explain what you’re doing.
If the subject and you speak the same language, tell them why you want to take their photo. (“It’s a beautiful scene. And the background fits you perfectly!”)
5. Don’t be pushy.
Ask permission, either through words or gestures, with a smile. If permission is denied, don’t try and sneak a photo. You risk arrest or a beat-down in many places.
6. Respect your subject’s time.
Be ready to shoot if you get a go-ahead. Don’t pick that moment to change lenses and settings. Make it quick!
7. In a local market, establish a rapport with one of the sellers.
Once accepted by one, the others will often be fine with you photographing them, too.
8. Make taking a photo of the seller part of the negotiation—as in “Okay, I’ll buy your tchotchke if you pose for a photo.”
Plus, photos of craftspeople with your purchase make it more meaningful. Or bring along a cheap Polaroid camera, take an image, and give it to your subject as a small gift of appreciation.
9. Focus on people who are engaged in an activity.
The best time to take candids of people is when they’re busy—involved in something else like shopping, watching a sporting contest, etc.
10. Be willing to back down.
Sometimes you just have to walk away from what you think is a prize-winning shot because the subject won’t cooperate—unless you think it’s worth risking the subject’s wrath (and bearing the consequences).
Twist’s Take: Think before you snap.
